Button-sewing attachment for sewing-machines.



R. A. SCRANTON.

BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1912.

LQQ. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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^ QQ y l r l R. A. SGRANTON. BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT JPoR SEWING MACHINES, APPLICATION PILBD APR.11.1912

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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l R. A. SCRANTON.

BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT FDR SEWING MACHINES. APPLIUATION FILED APR.11,1'912.

1,059,642. Patented Apr, 22, 1913.

GBHBETS-SHEET 3.

R. A. SGRANTON. BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT Fon SEWING MACHINES. 'APPLICATION FILED API1.11.1912.

1,059,642. Y Patented @1:22, 1913.

5 SHEETS--SIIEET 4.

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R. A. SCRANTON. BJTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT PGR SEWING MACHINES.

AN'LICATION FILED APR.11,1912.

1,059,642., Patented Apr. 91.3.

R. A. SCRANTON. BUTTON SEWING ATTAGHMBNT PoR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1912.

Patented Apr. 22. 191? SHEETS-SEEE l G,

I entre i ROBERT A. -soEaNtroN7 OE NEW YORK, N. Y., AssreNon, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro THE IMEEEIAI. SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, n CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

BUTTON-SEWING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES. i

.Specification of Letters Paten-t. Patnted Alpi?. 22, 1913.,

Application led April 11, 1.312.` Serial No. 690,198.

holding a button in a' proper position with mentioned character', -which is s elf-adjiistrelation to the fabric to whichv it is to be attached and shifting the' button and fabric so that. the holeslot1 the button will be brought into positioi s .to allow the needle to pass through the s. me insewin-g on said button. i

An important object ot' the invention is to provide-means ofthe above mentioned character including a novelfforin of button holdingdev'ice 'and novel means to press this device into engagement with the fabric to wliich'thebgatton is to be. attached, so that the button .and the fabric will be shifted together. Y

a urtlierobject of the invention is to provide an element 'foi'. attachment to' the presser `barand provided with antifriction means foi-engagement with the button holding device, 'to hold such device in proper clan'ipi'ng engagement with the fabricand to permit of the free shifting movementof said button lioldi'iigd'evice .without perceptible friction' between the engaging parts.

further objectof-this invention is to provide a button holding device of the above 'in o so that it will hold buttons of varying diameter and thickness. and willjalsohold a button having the dia metrically opposite portions thereof irregular orl )fdiif'erent i thickness. i

. further object of. thisv invention is to provide a button holdingdevice ofthe above *mentioned character which will automatically center buttonsfo-f different sizes.

A furtherobject 01u-the invention is-to provide means ot' the above mentioned character, which are automatic and reliable in parts Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification and in which likenumerals are employed to. designate like parts throughout the saine, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewing machine equipped with automatic clutch mechanism and sli-0W- ing my improved button sewing attachment applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a plan View of the button sewing attachment as a Whole. Fig. 3 is a side View of the same, Fig. 4 is a similar view of the opposite side of the same, Fig. 5 is an end View of the same, Fig. 6 is a similar view of the opposite end of the'device, Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 7'-7 of Fig. 4, eing' omitted, Fig. 8 is a Isimilar viewltaken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4 Fig. 9 is aA View" similar to Fig. 8, further elements 4being removed or broken away, Fig. -10 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on line 10-10 of' Fig. 8, Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken Aon line 11-11 of Fig. 8, Fig. 12 is a bottoml plan view Aof 'the clamping jaws or button holding device, Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12, F ig.A

14 is a horizontallongitudinal sectional view taken through the clamping jaws and looking downwardly, Fig. 1.5 is aftransverse sectional View takenon line" 15-45 of Fig. 14, Fig..16 is 'a similar' View taken-on" -line 16-16 of Figi 14, Fig. 17v is a vbottom plan view of one of the actuating cams, Fig. 18 is a similar view of the other cam, Fig. 19 is a perspective view of anV opera-ting y'element or lug which is secured tothe needle bar, and Fig. 20' isa similar view'of a presser arm vwhich is Aattachedto the presser bar. y,

ln .the drawings wherein for the salte of illustration.:l haveshown a preferred einbodinient of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a base oi" va preferably power driven sewing machine. Upon this base is mountedl an overhangingbracket arm 2.

carrying at'its forward end a head or shell 3, within which 1s disposed the ordinary l it being understood that the wheel S has no direct connection with the shaft' but drives it through the connection which 1t haswith the driven wheel 10'. Automatically operated .clutch mechanism is provided to disconnect the wheels 8 and 10 when the shaft T has made a predetermined number of revolutions. Such mechanism may be of any well known or preferred type although 1 prefer to employ suoli mechanism, as shown in my co-pending application for clutch mechanism, Serial No. 690,197, tiled April 11, 1912.

The numeral 11 designates my improved button sewing attachment as a Whole, which is located near the head 3 upon the base 1, as shown. This button sewing atachment comprises a base plate 1Q to be rigidly attached to the base t by any suitable means. Disposed upon the base plate 12 (see more particularly Fig. 9) is a lateral shitting bell-crank lever 18, pivotally connected with the base plate, as shown at 14. This bellcrank lever comprises a longitudinal and transverse arms l5 and 16, which are disposed at more than an angle o1 forty-five dcgrees, asshown. Beneath the arm 15 the base plate is provided lwitlra longitudinal opening 17 in registration witha smallerl longitudinal opening 18 formed in said arm 15. Longitudinally adjustably mounted Within the opening 1S is a block or head 19, carried by an upstanding bolt 9.0. This head is provided upon opposite sides with anges' 21 which engage thelower -surt'ace of the arm 15.' 'Disposed above the arm 15 is an upwardly off-set end portion of a shifting plate 2Q. the same being provided with a longitudinal opening Qi for receiving a flanged bloeit 24, as shown. This flanged block is l rovided with a central opening for receiving.` ai spacing sleeve 25, which surrounds the bolt 20. as shown. A washer 26 is disposed about the upper endy portions of this spacing sleeve. The boltA 20 carries a thumb or clamping nut 2T, held againstaccidental rotation by a locking nut 28 It is thus seen that` l have provided an adjustable pivotal connection between thearm 15 and the ott-set end portion of the shifting plate he shitting plate 22 is provided midwayl its ends with a longitudinal opening 29, for receiving a flanged block C30, which iS pivotally connected with the baseplate 12 by means ot a screw 3l or the like.l Pivotally connected with the shifting plate 22 at the forward-end .of the opening 29 a block 3Q, disposed within an elongated opening 33 tormed 1n a longltudmal shifting lever 34.

. This lever 34 is provided midway itsl ends .trom the base plate 1Q and pivotally connected therewith, as shown at 38. One arm of' this adjusting bell-crank lever carries the dpending pin 36- while the other arm of it is piv'ltally connected with a` pitman39, aS shown at 40. This pitman is providedat its opposite end with an enlarged apertured headr41` which surrtmnds the ring and iS disposed between the washer Q6 and the block 19, as shown. lt is thus seen that by unscrewing the thumb nut. 2T and moving the bolt 20 longitudinally within the opening 18, the point of pivotal connection between the shitting plate Qyijaud the arm 15 may be varied and tlhesame time the bell-crank lever i37 will'i-fbe moved to shift the pin 36 and accordingly change the pivot pointV of the lever 34. l`heshiftingplate2`2is moved longitudinally by the lever 34 and is swung or moved laterally about. its pivot. 31 Aby the bell-crank lever 16. The extent of these movements lregulated by changing the pivotal connections as above stated.

The arm 1G 1s provided at its free end .with an enlarged head 42 provided with an opening formed thereinhaving oppositely 'arranged-inwardly extending shoulders 43.

Disposed Within the opening of the head 42 is an 'upstanding bolt 44, which is rigidly connectedwith the base plate 12 and is provided with an enlarged smooth cylindrical lower portion.

The numeralh45 (see more particularly Fig. 18) designates a cam having a central opening 46 and provided with three extensions or points 47. This cam is rigidly connected with a ratchet Wheel 48. The cam' 45 is disposed withih-the open head 42 and the opening 46 thereof receives the enlarged smooth portion of the bolt 44. y y

'Slidably mounted upon the base plate 12 is a reciproeatory Vplate 49provided mth spaced elongated openings 50, for receiving stationary guides or posts 51, which are fixed upon said ybase plate. Disposed near. and upon opposite sides of one of these stationary posts 51 are upstanding cylindrical eX- l tensions or trunnions' 52, rigidly attached Vto the reciproeatory'plate 49. f

' The numeral 53 designates (see Fig. 17) av 50 connected.. with the guide plate t bythe screw 72. The ratchet wheels i8 and 50 are 'receiues the Iposit al. The reciprocatory 'plate 49 is pivotally 'connected withoiie end ofthe imei-34, as shown at o7.- a

ADisposed 'in spaced "relation to thebase plate l 12 is` Van yupper plate 58 which is suitably rigidly connected with Asaid base plate. Thisupper plate has its end por' ti'ons' bent at right-angles to forni upstanding supports 59, .carrying` bearings ($0, throughv which is jonrnaled a horizontal rock-shaft 0l. coil spring 62, having one end thereof at tached to the saine and its opposite end secured to the upstanding support 59. The

`function of this spring is to return the rockshaft' to'its normal position when removed therefrom.

o r p trwlsy-GG. vThe knuckles '0l and 65 are pivotally connected by pintles 0T. It isthns seen that the fingers or pawls titl are free to swing longitudinally o ithe'fsleevetl but cannot .partake -of any perceptible lateralY movement with, relation thereto.. Disposed -between and suitablysecured to the depending fingers o r pawlsl 0G is a coinpressible coil spring G8, which urges the saine away from each other. The upper plate 58 is provided with openings 69, 'through which the lingers or pawls 05- extend toengage the ratchet wheels t8 andt. ligidly nionnted upon the Aupper surface of the platel adjacent the openings 09, is a guide plate T0, having curved shoulders 7l, tobe engaged leyY the -fingers or pawls to cause thein to swinginwardly toward each other when the roekrigidly and preferably removably connected .shaftfl is turned. The gnideplate is with the plate 4 8 by a screwA T2 and the bolt 4e. When itis desired to stop the operation of the ratchet' wheel- 56 during lthe operal tion .ofthe ratchet wheel L18, a lever 'i3 is swung'into engagement with the lpawl or linger 0S, whereby such pawl ortlngei" is conned or made to travel in the inner porv tion of the opening (mand will 4not turn the ratchet wheel. This lever T3 is pivotally rotated in. one' direction by the pawls or fingers 66 and are prevented from rotating urged away from each other by a compres in a reverse direction by pivoted pawls 74,

sible coil spring 75.

Rigidly connected with lone end tif-the 'rock-shaft 61 is a crank arm 7G )rovided at its end with a'head having a segmental opening `or slot 77'formed therein.

The numeral 78 designates anauxiliary [crank-arml having one end thereof apertnrcd to receive rock-shaft 01 to be pivotally connected therewith. The auxiliary crank-arm -sh'at't'tl yand clamped in adjustment at 'a This rock-shaft carries a Rigidly mounted upon this' rock-shaft is a sleevet, carrying spacedY Adepending knuckles 64, to be disposed 'bep tweenspaced knuckles (S5 tornied upon the 'upper end "of Vdepending actuating fingersl 78 carries :i clamping boltr 79, disposed within the'opening TT.' lt is thus seen that by proper manipulation ot' the clamping bolt T9 the' auxiliarycra'nlearin T8 'inay he alignlarly adjusted willi relation to the 'rockdesired',angular position.

The nuineral et)` (see ,l"ig. 19) designates an open traine to be rigidly connected with ,t i the needle bar L1. `lhis traine carries an extension or boss S1,4 havingr a screwthreaded n xlal opening for receiving a clamping screw 82. The traine 80 is positioned upon the needle bar so that the boss lwill be placed below and in engagement with the auxiliary crank-arm TT.

The shifting plate 22 haszits forward end in the Aforni of a downwardly oltset portion S3, provided with an opening Si and a corrugated upper surface as. shown at 85.

ligidly connected vwith the shift-ing plate E22 adjacent the portion 83 thereof is a rear- 'wardly extending horizontal 'bracket 80, provided at one end with npstant-ling apertnred knuckles S7 through which passes a pintle H passing through depending knuckles St), disposed between said lnueltlesBS.

The knuckles 89 are foi-ined upon one end ot' a vertically swinging plate 90, which carries the button holding device, to be described. The plate 90 is engagedupon its lower snrt'ace by' a leaf-spring 91, tixed'ly attached at one end tothe 'bracket 86.- The plate 90 has a suitably stit leaf-spring 92 connected with `the end 'thereof adjacent the pivotl point, as shownat 93. 4'

The numeral 91 designates a presser arin (see Figs'. l, 3 and 20),'which is provided at one end with a socket 95, to receive the lower eiidio'f the presser 'bar tl.` 'l`he-socketf95 is provided with an'opening 90 for receiving a screw or the like (not shown) which'` rigidly connects the socket with the presser bar. The presse anni 9i has itsfree end portion 9T bent at right angles, as'sllown, and titted within a transverseslot 98 formed in a head 99 and rigidly held therein by bins'lOt) or the like. The head 9S is vertlically disposed and preferably tapers toward its lower end where it is' provided with a more .than heini-spherical opening 101,' .rotatably holding a indibearing 102. .in

one end with an opening G, for receiving the freecnd of the spring 91. 'lhe verticall) `swinging plate il() is provided with a longitiulinal opening 107 for receiving d epending extensions 10S and 109. carried upon the opposite ends ot' a Slide blochV 110, which is in turn provided with a longitudinal opening 111, as shown. The plate 10-1 Iis provided' with a screw-tlireaded opening 112 for receiving .a clamping screw 112i, such clamping screw passing through the t-wo longitudinal openings IOT and lll.` The dependingextension ltltl has its lower portion lient to extend horizontally to all'ord a linger l'or engagement with the button. .\\t itsI extreme end thi.`v extension or linger is lient downwardlyY at right angles. forming a. head 114. lt is obvious that the extension or linger 10E) and the plate ttyl may be independently longitudinall adjusted with respect to the plate J0 aud clamped in adju iuicni at desired positions b v turning the screw 112i. livotally connected..with the lower surface of the adjustable plate 101, as `shown at 115, are enlarged heads 116, toi-ined upon corresponding ends of oppositely arranged arms 11T, whichI are oil-set downwardly midway theirl ends. '.lhe heads 11G carry upon their adjacent faces pinion teeth 11S, which are in engagement, as shown, whereby a movement ot' one ot' the arms 117 causes a movement of the other arm in an opposite direction. In order that the movement of the arms 11T, away -from' each other ina-y be positively limited `so that the pinion teeth 113 cannoty get out of mesh, l provide one head 11o with an enlarged toot-li 119, which engages an enlarged tooth l 1:2().of the'other head and preventsl further turning of the heads 116 to open the arms '117. The inward movement of the arin's 1li' is positively limited 1`or the same reason by extensions 120 carried by said arms. The arins 117 carry depending apcrtured ears 121, which are connected by a retractile coil spring 122, serving to draw the arms together.

The arms 117 carry at their lower free ends clamping jawsl 123, adapted to hold the buttozli and to presstlie fabric to which the button is 'to be sewed into clan'iping engage: ment with the free end port-ion 83 of the plate The jaws 125% have their free ends inwardly beveled, as shown at 124, the

wedge-sliajied opening between such beveled A port-lons increasing in width downwardly.

The jaws 1:23 are t'urtlier provided near the beveled portions 12st and upon their inner lfaces with openings 125, which are substantially V-sliaped in horizontal cross-section. These openings 125 have their walls vertically beveled or inclined to-gtoi-in a space ll'iei'ebetwcen which increases in Width downwardly. Secured upon the lower faces of the jaws 123are plat es 126 having open-- iugsl formed therein. The edges of these plates adjacent the openings 19.? extend 1nwardly beyond the edges otjtlic jaws l,y

and sei-ve. as stops for the button which is t'orced downwardly owing to the vertical beveled walls ot the openings 125. Dy thisI 121 oi the el. nnping jaws and moving the button horizontally toward the jaws, which causes t hein to separate and allows the button to move into the openings 125. The button holdingjaws automatically center the. button aud lirinly hold it between them to be properly shifted. I the V-shaped ojienigs orrecesses 12:3 vertic-.illy inclined, a button with diainetrically oppositeV portions ot' diit'erent thicknesses, is just as securely heldby the jaws, such but.- ton being forced downwardly to engage the plates 120. The. linger or extension 10%) is properly adjusted according tothe diameter of the. button and serves as a stop to limit the horizontal movement of the button when it is being inserted between the clamping The operation of the device is as folliws:-'I`lie driving wheel 8 is continuously ioiated andthe clutch mechanism normally aitords a n operative (ionneet-ion between the saine `and the driven wheel 10, whereby the operating shaft 7 is rotated' to reciprocate the needle bar f1. Upon the upward in'ovenient ofthe needle bar the extension 81 of the sleeve 80 carried thereby engages the, auxiliary crank arms 78 and rocks the shaft (il. in the direction asindieated by, the ar,- row. The actuating-lngere or pawls engage the teeth of the@ 'toltetgwheels 48 and 56 and also slid'li'ilon'glthe curved shoulders 71 of the-guide plate' 70. When the needle bar descends the springt@ retnrns t.li rocleshaft-Gltoits normal startingv position. It Ais thus seen that the ratehet-wheeis 48 and 56 are advanced a step for each complete up and down movement of the needle bar. -The ratchet-wheels flS and 56 rotate resj'ieetively the cams Li5 and .Each step by step movement of the ratchet-wheel 48 and the cam 45 causes a .By having the walls ot" swinging movement 'of the ,bell-crank lever lo while only iipfon the fourth step by step movement. of the i'atcliet-\\'lieel 56 does the cani 53 reciprocate the plate 49. l't is obvi ons that the cani to will swiii .xthe bellcra ult `lever 16 first. in one directif i and then in a reverse direction and that the' cam 53 moves the plate '49 lii'stin onedirection and then in a reverse direction.l VThe bell-crank lever 16 causes the late `al swinging or shift-j ing ino'veinentrof tihe .plate 22 and the plate 49 through suitable connections causes the longitudinal movement of thjplaie 22, Inl

this 'manner the plate 22 is givenjtwo lateral iso ' and in this new fposition againshifted latersize, and arrangement of parts ma be removements and then shifted longitudinelly ally twice and subsequently returned to the first longitudinal position. This operation is then repeated. By movingthe bolt 14 longitudinally within the slot 17 the longitndinal and lateral throw of the plate 22 may be varied, as hereinabove explained., The button is placed between the jaws 123 and automatically centered and iirmly held in place by them. The presser barils lowered which moves the presser arm 94 doWn- Wardly so that the ball-bearing 102 engages the leaf-spring 92, swinging the plate 90 to its lowermost position and holding the jaws 123 in engagementwith the fabric to clamp the same against the end portion 83 of the plate 22. In this manner the button is held near and slightly spaced from the fabric and both the button and fabric are shiftedi together. Assuming that the button is inf serted in the button holding device and that the machine is in'operatlon, such button holding device will be shifted to bring-the button in positions sothat the needle will pass throughI the holes thereof. After the button has been shifted a predetermined number oi times and a desired number of stitches have been sewed, the clutch mechanism is automatically operated to bring the needle bar and all mechanism operated thereby to a sto The presser bar is then raised (the nee le bar stopping in its elevated position), the thread cut, and the button removed from the button holding device. l a

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that certain changes in the shape,

sorted to Without departing from t e spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

. l. The combination ,with the needle bar, needle, and presser barof a' sewing machine, of button holding and shifting mechanism comprising a movable element, a presser arm attached to the presser bar and having a head provided `at its lower end 'with an i approximately semi-spherical pocket, and a ball freely rotatably mounted in the pocket with its lower portion extending outwardly of the same to engage said element.

2. The combination with the needle bar, needle, and presser bar of a sewing machme,

of button holding and shifting mechanism,

comprising a movable element, a presser arm attached to the presser bar for holding the element in a lowered osition and ca ing a head having a soc et formed therem and an oil supply o ening extending to said socket, and a ball- Acaring freely rotatablyf within the socket.

y 3. The combination with'the 4needle bar, needle, and presser bar of a sewing machine, of a button holding and shiftin mechanism comprising a vertically move. le plate, a leaf-spring connected therewith,. a presser arm attached to the presser bar, and a ballylongitudinal opehing formed therein, o a

second plate'dlsposed in engagement with the lower face: of the main plate and adapted to be longitudinally adjusted with relation thereto, b tton holding means carried by the second pl e, i the upper ,sur ce of the main plate and having a lonitu inal slot and provided with a linger t serve as a stop for the button, and a clamping screw passing through the longitudinal Aopenings and engaging the sec` ond plate. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT A. SCRAN TON.

- Witnesses:

Rosita E. 4KITCH, AUSTIN DANA.

block slidably mounted upon` 

